Managers praise striker Rodallega

23 September 2012 07:47

Hugo Rodallega earned the praise of both managers as he helped Fulham to their first away win of the season against his former club Wigan.

The Colombian left the Latics in the summer after refusing to sign a new contract and scored his first goal for his new club at the DW Stadium in Fulham's 2-1 victory.

Rodallega is Wigan's all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League with 24 and, after a few boos early in the game, he was applauded by the home fans when he chose not to celebrate his bullet header. Fulham boss Martin Jol said: "I knew Rodallega would be very eager and motivated to do something nice, to score his goal and that was exactly what he did, so that was ever so pleasing for us."

Jol added: "He showed respect to the people and they showed him respect as well."

Rodallega's goal came in the 31st minute and Damien Duff added a second for the visitors in the 68th minute before Arouna Kone pulled one back in injury time.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said of his former player: "Hugo showed real respect to the fans. It could have been easy for him to celebrate the goal, and rightly so.

"It was a nice gesture from him and the fans recognised that.

"Nothing hurts you more than losing a football game and nothing gives you more happiness than winning a football game so showing the respect of controlling the emotions I think was a nice touch."

Martinez, meanwhile, was far from happy with his side but felt the result was harsh, saying: "I don't think we deserved to lose. What Fulham did was created a few chances, probably more than we would like. I thought from open play a couple of times we showed a lack of intensity in defence but we had the better chances.

"When Jordi hits the crossbar it seems that it's not going to be your day. Arouna Kone and Mauro Boselli's chances were as open as you're going to get and you need to score goals."